Words of all sorts will be swirling around Watchet during the spring half-term next year.
The town is set to host the Words in Watchet literary celebration, with an array of events lined up from Friday, February 20, 2026.
The festival starts with a day of children's fun on Friday, followed by an adult storytelling session featuring Hugh Lupton.
Mr Lupton will captivate the audience with a tale about his grand-uncle, Arthur Ransome, and a risky escape from revolutionary Russia.
Saturday, February 21, promises to be just as lively with a luncheon with Martin Hesp at The Spice Merchant.
For those who enjoy stories with their supper, there is another storytelling session during dinner at Chives.
Sunday, February 22, features a blend of crime fiction and cuisine with detective novelist Damian Boyd hosting lunch at The West Somerset Hotel.
This will be followed by an afternoon tea, with Neil and Cath reading book excerpts, at Chives.
A weekend-long poetry programme, including workshops and a spoken word evening, promises to intrigue verse lovers.
Fantasy fans will also have their share of fun with a Dungeons and Dragons workshop and various talks on topics ranging from detective stories to the history of photography.
Adding to Watchet's creative fervour are some intriguing talks on various subjects.
Scheduled speakers include Fiona Benson, Nick Nugent and Andrew Miller - recently a Booker Prize short-lister.
Also gracing the festival will be Chris Ewans, Jonathon Green, Lucy Pollock, and Angela Patmore.
There will be a number of local authors based at The Phoenix and books from Brendon Books.
Running alongside the festival are two adult writing competitions - the over-18s poetry competition and the over-18s flash fiction competition - both of which require entries to be submitted by Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The full Words in Watchet programme is scheduled to be available from early January.
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